Law enforcement rift

Sarasota County Sheriff Tom Knight recently told county commissioners that
his office has been forced to shoulder an increasing level of costs and
risks for operations within the Sarasota city limits. Sarasota Police Chief
Bernadette DiPino disputed the sheriff's conclusions. They later reaffirmed
their "commitment to a good relationship" between their agencies.

HERALD-TRIBUNE ARCHIVE

Published: Sunday, June 30, 2013 at 1:00 a.m.

Last Modified: Friday, June 28, 2013 at 6:39 p.m.

Sheriff Tom Knight and Sarasota Police Chief Bernadette DiPino made a grand show of peace Thursday. But underneath the happy talk lay a can of worms, opened by Knight June 18 when he complained that his county office shoulders increasing costs and risks to fight crime in the city's north-Sarasota jurisdiction.

Knight seemed remarkably frustrated with city police strategies. "I can assure you one thing: Their decrease in crime is highly attributable to your sheriff's office," Knight told county commissioners.

That was news to DiPino, who disagreed.

Is this a clash of egos, expectations, or something else?

After a story on Knight's comments was published in the Herald-Tribune, the two law enforcement leaders met privately, emerging with pledges of "a reaffirmed commitment to a good relationship" between the agencies.

That's a start. But the exposed rift raises substantial questions about law enforcement priorities, strategies and funding. Both agencies need to provide data and answers. If there's a problem, the public deserves a solution.

Shared responsibilities

North Sarasota's population straddles the city/county line. The Police Department handles the neighborhoods within city limits. The Sheriff's Office mostly patrols the unincorporated areas but, according to Knight, increasingly is backing up police within the city limits. His office is also mounting more anti-crime operations near there, Knight said.

The sheriff acknowledges that he has a responsibility for all of Sarasota County, not just the unincorporated areas. City taxpayers, after all, not only fund their own Police Department but also join the rest of the county in funding the Sheriff's Office.

Yet, with two agencies serving north Sarasota, it's important to coordinate efforts, avoid duplication and use crime-fighting resources as effectively as possible.

North Sarasota and Newtown present a particular challenge. Poverty is concentrated there, along with the social problems that attend it. Jobs are desperately thin. The area has been the scene of shootings that not only injure people but destroy neighbors' peace of mind and thwart economic revitalization.

The city is trying a community-based strategy that aims to leverage police, neighborhood and family pressure to keep lower-level crime from escalating. (Thirty-nine arrests were announced last week in connection with this effort.) It's a new approach for the city and has not been in place long, so it's hard to judge whether it's working.

Smaller police force

The situation is playing out at a time when the city police force is smaller than it had been -- diminished by recession budget cuts, retirements and attrition. The overall cost of the department remains large, however, due in part to pension expenses and collective-bargaining rules that restrict city leaders' ability to enact a cost-cutting overhaul. Some reforms have been approved, but pension obligations are still projected to rise precipitously.

The Sheriff's Office has more flexibility on employee matters, which is one reason why some observers suggest so-called consolidation -- i.e., no longer having a separate Police Department. Though city Mayor Shannon Snyder says bluntly that the sheriff would do a better job, others say there would be little or no savings. Knight says there's no real public support for the idea.

Relationship needs to be clarified

City officials have warned that for the sake of future sustainability, Police Department costs must be reined in. Knight, conversely, worries that the already diminished police force is resulting in bigger costs and risks for his office.

Meanwhile, city taxpayers are hit up twice -- once for police, once for sheriff -- and violence continues in north Sarasota.

Nobody should be satisfied with this situation.

The tension evident between these agencies suggests that their "relationship" needs to be revamped and clarified. They seem to lack a clear understanding of what they should expect from each other. That sows conflict and waste.

The sheriff, the chief, and the county and city commissioners who set their budgets should sit down together and work this out. Taxpayers expect a safe community, whether they live in the city or the county. Two law enforcement agencies -- coordinating efforts rather than stepping on each other's toes -- should be able to meet that goal.

<p>Sheriff Tom Knight and Sarasota Police Chief Bernadette DiPino made a grand show of peace Thursday. But underneath the happy talk lay a can of worms, opened by Knight June 18 when he complained that his county office shoulders increasing costs and risks to fight crime in the city's north-Sarasota jurisdiction.</p><p>Knight seemed remarkably frustrated with city police strategies. "I can assure you one thing: Their decrease in crime is highly attributable to your sheriff's office," Knight told county commissioners.</p><p>That was news to DiPino, who disagreed.</p><p>Is this a clash of egos, expectations, or something else?</p><p>After a story on Knight's comments was published in the Herald-Tribune, the two law enforcement leaders met privately, emerging with pledges of "a reaffirmed commitment to a good relationship" between the agencies.</p><p>That's a start. But the exposed rift raises substantial questions about law enforcement priorities, strategies and funding. Both agencies need to provide data and answers. If there's a problem, the public deserves a solution.</p><p>Shared responsibilities</p><p>North Sarasota's population straddles the city/county line. The Police Department handles the neighborhoods within city limits. The Sheriff's Office mostly patrols the unincorporated areas but, according to Knight, increasingly is backing up police within the city limits. His office is also mounting more anti-crime operations near there, Knight said.</p><p>The sheriff acknowledges that he has a responsibility for all of Sarasota County, not just the unincorporated areas. City taxpayers, after all, not only fund their own Police Department but also join the rest of the county in funding the Sheriff's Office.</p><p>Yet, with two agencies serving north Sarasota, it's important to coordinate efforts, avoid duplication and use crime-fighting resources as effectively as possible.</p><p>North Sarasota and Newtown present a particular challenge. Poverty is concentrated there, along with the social problems that attend it. Jobs are desperately thin. The area has been the scene of shootings that not only injure people but destroy neighbors' peace of mind and thwart economic revitalization.</p><p>The city is trying a community-based strategy that aims to leverage police, neighborhood and family pressure to keep lower-level crime from escalating. (Thirty-nine arrests were announced last week in connection with this effort.) It's a new approach for the city and has not been in place long, so it's hard to judge whether it's working.</p><p>Smaller police force</p><p>The situation is playing out at a time when the city police force is smaller than it had been -- diminished by recession budget cuts, retirements and attrition. The overall cost of the department remains large, however, due in part to pension expenses and collective-bargaining rules that restrict city leaders' ability to enact a cost-cutting overhaul. Some reforms have been approved, but pension obligations are still projected to rise precipitously.</p><p>The Sheriff's Office has more flexibility on employee matters, which is one reason why some observers suggest so-called consolidation -- i.e., no longer having a separate Police Department. Though city Mayor Shannon Snyder says bluntly that the sheriff would do a better job, others say there would be little or no savings. Knight says there's no real public support for the idea.</p><p>Relationship needs to be clarified</p><p>City officials have warned that for the sake of future sustainability, Police Department costs must be reined in. Knight, conversely, worries that the already diminished police force is resulting in bigger costs and risks for his office.</p><p>Meanwhile, city taxpayers are hit up twice -- once for police, once for sheriff -- and violence continues in north Sarasota.</p><p>Nobody should be satisfied with this situation.</p><p>The tension evident between these agencies suggests that their "relationship" needs to be revamped and clarified. They seem to lack a clear understanding of what they should expect from each other. That sows conflict and waste.</p><p>The sheriff, the chief, and the county and city commissioners who set their budgets should sit down together and work this out. Taxpayers expect a safe community, whether they live in the city or the county. Two law enforcement agencies -- coordinating efforts rather than stepping on each other's toes -- should be able to meet that goal.</p>